Device for attaching stars to flags



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. HOLT.

DEVICE FOR ATTAOHING STARS TO FLAGS. No. 257,222. Patented May 2,1882.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2- (No Model.)

Patented May 2', 1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HOLT, OF LOYVELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICE FOR ATTACHING STARS TO FLAGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,222, dated May 2,1882. i Application filed February 17, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HOLT, of Lowell, in the county of MiddlesexandStateof Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement inDevices for Placing Stars Upon a Flag, which invention I will describeas follows:

In the drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 showsthe frame open and with a strip of the field of a United States flagadjusted therein, Fig. 2 shows said frame closed and fastened, with astrip of the field inclosed and a part of the stars in place. Fig. 3shows what may be termed a mold-board, also seen in .Figs. 1 and 2, uponwhich the frame is placed and adjusted when in operation; and Fig. atillustrates said frame removed from the mold-board and opened upon itshinges, the strip to be operated upon being removed in this figure. Fig.5,'Sheet 2, shows a strip in the frame, the frame being closed andfastened, the stars adjusted upon one side of the strip, and adrying-weight ready for use, in the manner hereinafter described. Fig. 6shows the manner of holding a star in place and at the same time liftingthe points of the star by application of a weight at the center thereoffor the purpose of applying paste to the under sides of said points, soas to temiorarily stick said points to the strip operated upon. Fig. 7shows one side of the completed flag with the stars permanently stitchedupon the field, and Fig. 8 is a section of the field to illustrate twostars as stitched to both sides and through the field and exactlyopposite each other.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the different figuresot' the drawings.

My invention consists in a frame opening and closing by means of hingesor other equivalent device, and fastened, when closed, by hooks, asshown,orby'any equivalent and suitable means. Within each side of saidframe is stretched and securely held, by tacks or their equivalent,stiff paper or other suitably thin and substantial fabric, said fabricbeing cut into the shape of stars for a flag, said starshaped openingsto be at the distance apart required for the stars upon theflagtobe'made. Strips of sand-paper or other abrasive fabric are placedupon both sides and both ends of the inside of one side of the frame andupon the edge of the paper lining to hold the strip of field in placeduring the act of closing the frame. Amold-board is provided, upon whichthe frame is temporarily adjusted, so as to furnish a bearing for thestrip of flag while the stars are being adjusted and temporarily pastedthereon, the mold board being made double, as it were, so that the framemay be turned over thereon for the purpose of adjusting stars andpasting them upon each sideof the strip of field and exactly oppositeeach other. A weight is also provided, to be placed upon the center ofeach star to lift the points of the star, so that paste or otheradhesive matter can be spread thereunder, and the weight also serves theadditional purpose of holding the star firmly in place until itis pastedto the field. WVhen the stars are thus temporarily adjusted, the stripof field is removed from the frame, and each two opposite stars and thefield are stitched through and together, in the ordinary and well-knownmanner.

A is a frame, opening and closing on the hinges a, and provided with thehooks b and eyes b for fastening when closed.

M is a stilt thin lining, preferably of paper, stretched within eachside of the frame A and fastened by the tacks c, as clearly shown inFig. 4.. The abrasive strips I) (seen in full in Fig. 4) are for thepurpose of holding the flag material E in place during the act ofclosing the frame A. The strips 1) are fastened preferably bydriving thetacks 0 through said strips and the lining M into the frame.

B are star-shaped openings in the lining M, said openings in theliningsM of the two sides of the frame A to be exactly opposite each other.

' D is a mold-hoard with two moldings, D, said moldings D to be used ashearings in adjusting the stars 0 upon the flag material E andpastingsaid stars upon said material. The use of said moldings is shownin Fig. 2, said figure showing two stars, O,adjustcd and pasted in theirplaces upon the material E and within the openings B in the lining, andalso illustrating two more openings B ready to receive stars.

In the practical work of making flags, it is better to take strips ofmaterial for a field of proper length and width to take seven or eightstars, or, in short, that the length of the strips had better be of thedesiredlength of the field, so that the strips need only be piecedtogether longitudinally in completing the field. Of course a frame couldbe made large enough to attach the stars to an entire field. at once;but such a frame is of a size and shape to be inconvenient in handling.The frame is shown in the drawings as only long enough to adjust fourstars at a time; but this is done merely for economy of space in makingthe drawings.

The operation of my invention is substantially as follows: The frame Ais opened wide upon the mold-board D; the strip of flag material' isthen placed in theframe, and upon the side thereof upon which are theabrasive strips 1), said material covering said side completely. Whenthe frame is thus opened for the reception of the flag material andplaced upon the "mold-board D, it should be over and upon I within oneof the openings B and the process illustrated in Fig. 6 thenfollows-that is to say, any suitable weight, H, is placed upon thecenter of the star 0, thus holding the star in place, and at thesametimelifting the points of said star, as shownin Fig. 6. Theoperator, with any suitable brush, J, or by other equivalent means,thenspreads a pasteor any proper adhesive material upon the under side ofthe points of the star 0, as shown in Fig. 6, then pressing said pointsdown on to the fabric E and within the openings B. After all the starsfor one side of the strip of flag fabric are thus atside of said strip Eand pasted thereon; in the same manner as before described.

In order to facilitate the dryiugof the paste, a metal weight, G,moderately heated, may be placed upon each set'of stars after thepasting process, and before theframeis moved, so as to avoid displacingthe stars. The frame A may now be opened, the strip taken out, and thetwo opposite stars 0 and the strip of the field L stitched together andstitched through, as shown in Fig. 8. Said stitching being completed,the strips of the field being pieced,and thus forming the entire fieldL, said field is then attached to the rest'of the flag in the ordinarymanner, one side of which isillustrated by Fig. 7.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A device for attaching stars to a flag, consisting of the frame A,provided with hinges a, hooks and eyes I) and b respectively, aud'alsoequipped with the linings M, said linings containing the star-shapedopenings B, said openings within each side of the frame being exactlyopposite each other, the abrasive strips 1), the mold-board D, with twomoldings, D, the holding-weight H, and the drying-weight G, constructed,arranged, and combined substantially as described and shown.

JOHN HOLT.

Witnesses:

JOHN DAVIS, ALMERIA L. BOYNTON.

